House votes to end wives on campaign staffs

Voice vote approval given to a big ethics issue:

Spouses don't belong on campaign payrolls, the House says, voting to end a practice that has benefited some members of Congress for years.

Monday's action follows controversies in which lawmakers added many thousands of dollars to their family incomes by hiring relatives for campaign tasks, even if their qualifications were not always apparent.

But watchdog groups like CREW see dimmer prospects in Senate. Reading between the analytical lines, it seems likely somebody will put a “hold” on the bill.

But, in today’s blogosphere, “holds” have been quickly outed on some major pieces of legislation. This one shouldn’t be any different. So, when it gets to the Senate, let’s be alert.